Center divider for a tractor mounted corn harvester



Dec. 27, 1955 R. c. FERGASON CENTER DIVIDER FOR A TRACTOR MOUNTED CORN HARVESTER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed June 15, 1942 Dec. 27, 1955 R. c. FERGASON CENTER DIVIDER FOR A TRACTOR MOUNTED CORN HARVESTER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed June 15, 1942 I'IIIL 3mm fo 8. 3

mic/w Dec. 27, 1955 R. c. FERGASON 2,728,184

CENTER DIVIDER FOR A TRACTOR MOUNTED CORN HARVESTER Original Filed June 15, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 5 Dec. 27, 1955 R. c. FERGASON 2,728,184

CENTER DIVIDER FOR A TRACTOR MOUNTED CORN HARVESTER Original Filed June 15, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Dec. 27, 1955 R. c. FERGASON CENTER DIVIDER FOR A TRACTOR MOUNTED CORN HARVESTER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed June 15, 1942 United States Patent- CENTER DIVIDER FOR A TRACTOR MOUNTED CORN HARVESTER Rector C. Fergason, Gadsden, Ala., assignor to Allis- Chalmers Manufacturing Company, Milwaukee, Wis.

Division of application Serial No. 447,025, June 15, 1942. Continuation of application Serial No. 111,057, August 18, 1949, new Patent No. 2,663,983, dated December 29, 1953. This application May 13, 1953, Serial No 354,692

4 Claims. (Cl. 56-119) This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 447,025, filed June 15, 1942, now abandoned, and the continuation thereof, application Serial No. 111,057, filed August 18, 1949, now U. S. Patent No. 2,663,983, issued December 29, 1953, and the invention relates in general to agricultural implements, and has more particular relation to corn harvesters where-v in during their travel through the field, ears of corn are picked from standing stalks and the husks are preferably removed from the picked ears and the latter are conveyed to a suitable point of collection.

Tractor mounted corn harvesters have been in commercial production and use for a considerable time past, but commercial forms of such harvesters have heretofore been relatively cumbersome and heavy with a consequent requirement of relatively considerable time and laber in assembling the harvester on the tractor and removing it therefrom when it is desired to use the tractor for other farm purposes.

The present invention is directed toward and contemplates avoiding or minimizing the disadvantages ofpresent commercial forms of such farm implements, and the production of a corn harvester of such simple design and construction, reduced number of parts and lightweight, as results in reduced initial cost to the farmer and reduced costs of operation, and embodies features which provide for efiicient operation and increased comfort and safety of the operator, and which facilitates ready assembling of the harvester on the tractor and removal therefrom in a minimum of time.

Further advantages of this invention are concerned with the provision of improved design and construction for guiding the standing corn stalks into effective snapping relation with respect to the rolls, and for lifting down stalks and ears into position where they are effectively carried into desired operative relation with respect to the rolls.

with the provision of an improved design of center divider and associated shields for a harvester of the two row type; and additional advantages of the invention are concerned with an improved design of readily removable and replaceable outer shield, and associated parts, for'the gathering and picking mechanism of the harvester.

Objects of this invention are concerned with provision of a corn harvester and its mounting on a tractor, of such improved design and construction as contribute to the attainment of the aforesaid and other structural and operating advantages, individually and collectively.

These and other objects and advantages are attained by the present invention, various novel features of which will be apparent from the description herein and the accompanying drawings, disclosing an embodiment of features of the invention, and will be more particularly pointed out in the annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a view in side elevation, with parts removed to,

Further advantages of this invention are concerned harvester embodying features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of, the harvester, with parts removed, in its relation to the tractor;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the harvester, with partsremoved;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view drawn to a reduced scale of the'harvester mounted on the tractor;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a detail, in the plane of the line VV of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view, in the plane of the line VI-VI of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged plan view of one of the removable outer gathering elements of the harvester;

Fig. 8 is an outer side view of the elements shown in Fig. 7; v

Fig. 9 is an enlarged plan view of an element shown in Fig. 3; and v Fig. 10 is a sectional view in the plane of the line XX of Fig. 9.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings particularly in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, a conventional form of tractor, or other suitable form of mobile frame, is indicated at 2, and includes a supporting frame 3 carrying an engine 4, with conventional controls and other accessories. The tractor frame is supported on a pair of steerable front wheels 5 having their axles suitably hung from the frame, and on a pair of traction wheels 6 carried by a rear axle housing 7 supported on or integral with the rear portion of the tractor frame. This rear axle housing is preferably of the drop type wherein the central or intermediate portion encloses a differential drive, driven from the usual transmission shaft 8, and depending side portions 9 of the housing enclosing gear connections from the differential drive to the axles of the traction wheels 6. A conventional change speed transmission 10 provides a variable speed connection from the engine shaft to the transmission shaft 8; and a power axle housing in desired position with respect to the tractor controls.

The corn harvester is shown as comprising two units which are similar except as to being left and right, respectively, and each comprising cooperative picking and husking rolls mounted on a supporting frame and disposed at its own sideof the tractor frame and with its essential harvesting parts disposed laterally within the tread of the adjacent traction wheel 6, and a conveying device extending rearwardly for conveying husked corn beneath the tractor rear axle housing and depositing it in the forward lower end of an elevating conveyor 16 at the rear of the tractor, along with suitable controls and drives for operating the several mechanisms of the harvester. g X

As more particularly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the harvester frame comprises two longitudinally extending frame bars 17 connected in laterally spaced relation through a cross bar 18 at their rear end; and a cross bar facilitate illustration, showing a tractor mounted corn 19 rigidly connected to the bars 17 at a forward point. Longitudinally extending frame bars 21, preferably of rectangular tubular form, are disposed laterally outside of the bars 17 and are connected to framebars 17 either directly or by brackets by a cross member 22 connected to rear ends of the bars 21. The bars 21 are also connected to the adjacent longitudinal frame bars 17 through brackets 23 rigidly connected to the bars 17 and bearing supports 24 detachably connected to the brackets 23 and to the forward end portionor an extension-thereof, of

summon.

3i thes.corresponding..barsll.. connected, through connecting brackets, to the longitudinal bars 17, and upstanding bracket members 27 serve to connect the 1 lateral extensions of i the cross-bar: 26 to the bars 21$ These-bracket'members ZT'serveassupports for the rear bearings of therharvester rolis'; to he referredwith the pivot element extending through and outwardly-- fromthe plate 1 and 1 welded thereto and 'hraced thereon.

The pins 28 are received in bearing recesses of bracketbearing memb'ersS-l which are open'artheirrear ends,

the pivot pins being held inoperative*positinin their bearing-bracketsfil byrernovable-locking pins '32." The bearing brackets are attached to depending side portions 9'- of the-rear axle 'housing 73 The "laterally-projecting pivot pins 28 are in such position with respect to the othenpor tionsof the harvester-frame -th'at *thetraetor' may be propelled rcarwardly over the harvester frame and parts carried thereby when the frame issupported on the ground, with-its rear end at a suitable elevation; until the rear 'end ofth'e bearing bracketsfilpass over -and receive the pivot pins therein.

The forwardendof the-harvester frame is hung from the tractor at an adjustableheight above the ground through a pair of hanger rods 33 removably suspendedfrom' brackets-34 attached to each side of the tractor frame. The lower endof'eachof thehangers 33' is retnovably attached to arms 36 mounted on'a sleeve '37 plvotally' mounted inbrackets carriedxb'y frame members 173 An arm 35" (see-Fig. 3) attached to sleeve 37 is-conneetedtoa mechanism-40'actuable by the'tractor operator' for raising and lowering the front end of "the-corn harvester.

An *enclosing housing 38* ofa-power transmitting'driv'e is removably mounted on-a'pair of brackets carriedby;

A cross shaft 39-=is journaled 40 and enclosed in housingSS-and has bevel gears 41attach'ed" crossbar 2.2"(see Fig. 2);

to the ends-thereof: The -gears-41mesh with b'evel'gears 42 carried by the rear-endsof forwardly extending'shafts 43*mounted in bearings carried by housing 38? These sh'afts' -are preferably connected throughfiexi'ole couplingin the form of a double universal couplingwith.therear ends of harvestingxoils 44.

Shaft 39 has a sprocket wheel 46 attached to amid portion thereof which is drivingly connected to sprocket "7 'ofTear elevator 16 by means of a chain'48; A bevel' gear 49 'attaehed to shaft 39 meshes with-a hevel gear 51 on the'inner or rear end of shaft section 52 extending forwardly and mounted withina bearing carriedibyhousing'38. The forward end ofthisshaft'isprovidedwith asuita'ole coupling 53*adap ted'at its forwardend toube'. received within splined sleeve 13 of power take-.off. shaft" 12'. A bevel gear 54 is secured 'to'the lowerendofeach shaft 56 within housing38 and in driven relation to bevel gears 57 secured to shaft 39. Attached to the upper end of each shaft So'indirectlyth'rough' an overload'clutchmechanism (not shown) is a sprocket58 drivinglycoianected to a conveyor chain 59.

With the parts ofsthe power transmission driveinas- 65 take-off .shaft 12 ofthe tractor: engine, the.shaft .39.-is driven through bevelgears49; 51. The shaft-39 acting throughbevel gears 41, 42 drives the forwardly extendingv shaft 43 and theparts associated -therewith,..through: bevel:

r70 shafts 5.6: and thetparts associated therewith; andithrough" sembled relation and the shaft 52. connected .to. the power gear. connections 54,-i57 drives the upwardly extending sprocket; 46 and? chain"; 48 drives .elevating'; conveyer 16:

Each. picker husker cunit," shown-.more particularly in" Fig 3 .comprisesa pairofcoppositely-rotatable cooperative A.cross.-.bar.26 .is-alsorigidly.

rqlls;.the soutenrollf: being indicatedegenerally at ".61 T; and

Attached to each longitudinal frame bar 17 in overlying relation thereto is a plate 62 projectingoutwardly;from the bar toward and overlying the adjacent harvester roll 44 to act as a stripper plate. A sprocket 63 is rotatably mounted on a forward end of plate '62'and a conveying chain 59 driven by sprocket 58 passes around sprocket-63 Wh'lGhfOIlnSihB forward end'ofsuch' conveyer. 59"is' provided with flights 66 which are adapted to move standing stalks of 'corn in between rolls Y44 and 6lland -tor moverearwardly-ears of corn which havebeen snapped T fromthe stalks;

Forwardly' extendingframe. bars 67" are pivotally mountedaboutahorizontal axison a pivot carried by abearing 68*attheft0tit end 'of the forward extension 69 of the-frame bars 17; and'the forward portion of these bars-gradually curve inwardly. Upstanding side shield elements 71 of gradually reduced height toward their forward end are securedto the bars 67', and the bars. 67 extend beyond'theforward end of the shields 71; and the rear'end'of these shields fits outside the forward end of' inner gatheringshields '72, the pivotal movement of the bars 67- and'shieldelements 71 carriedthereby being limited through engagement of inwardly extending bolts 73 at the upper rear 'endof the shields 71'passing through elongated slots in the forward end of each gathering shield' 72;

Ea'chgathering shield 72 is mounted in position along. side the-active course of chain 59 passing over the barvesting rolls' and in spaced elevated relation to such chain asis indicated 'imFi'g; l. Shield72 is indirectly supported from' fr'ame members 17 by transversely extendingtbrace members 74*(seeFig; 3). The lower.substantially-ven tical sidewallof the shield 72'preferably has a rearward extension 76; the'rear end being'inclined inwardly, and thisvertical wall -beingsecured to the upper face of the chain guides 77, 78 (see Figs. 9 and 10), preferably by. thesamebolts' as' are used 'to secure the chain guides in position-0n the trough' plate" 791' Mounted' on the'front end of the tractor frame is the upper section 81'of a'center divider shield '80 (see Figs. 1"and*4), this section comprising a forwardly extending roof section:v 82 and a 'downwardprojection 83 therefrom having an inclined and generally curved front or forward wall 83' with side portions 85 extending .alongside. and spaeed from the front end' of the tractor frame. This upper section is "detachably secured iniposition by means ofbrackets"8'4 (s'eeFigs. Sand 6) secured .to the inner side=of theroof-and side wall portions,'the upper portion of these braekets and the roof section. having apertures therethrouglr'wh'ichfit over the turned'uptend 8 6of the upper'fiange-of brackets 87removably attachedto'the sid fr'ame ll of the tractor. The lower end of'each bracket 84' -has a' guiding-fit in an aperturein a lower. flange of the bracket 87. In thiscondition, the weight of the upper 'section'is carried by the'upper flangewf" bracket 873' The'divider section :81'is releasably held inoperative-position by' latches 88'inserted through slots, in'an inucrplate portion-of the brackets 84, the lower edgeofthelatcli having'a recessed portion with a rounded upper 'side; as indicated 'at 89, which fitsover the. edge :of.. the lower wall of a slot in the plate portion of the .bracket 84, this edge serving. as a'pivot on. which the latch may Chain passed through an aperture in the outer edge portion of the latch, engages the side walls of the slot in bracket 84 to restrain inward movement of the latch about its pivot.

A weighted extension 92 near the upper edge of the inner side of the latch biases the latch to a position wherein this extension lies immediately below the upper flange of the bracket 87, thus restraining the divider section 81 against upward removal from the tractor. To remove the upper divider section, the operator reaches from underneath and rotates the latch 88 outwardly on its pivot so that the extension 92 clears the upper flange of the bracket 87; and then the upper section may be moved upwardly to withdraw the bracket 84 from the turned up end of the upper flange on the bracket 87 and to withdraw the lower end of the bracket 84 from the aperture in the lower arm of the bracket 87, thereby permitting complete withdrawal of divider section from the tractor.

The curved forward wall portion 83 of the upper divider section 81 is provided at a forward central point with an aperture 93 through which a crank may be inserted for starting the tractor engine. With this crank aperture in a fixed portion of the center divider, the position of vertical adjustment of harvester frame or other parts does not interfere with cranking the engine.

A lower center divider section 94 has its upper edge of generally rounded form, fitting over the correspondingly shaped lower portion 83 of the upper section 81 of the center divider and has rearwardly extending side portions through which this lower section is pivotally mounted in a detachable manner to a lower rear portion of the upper section of the divider, preferably through a removable pivot bolt 95 passing through suitably stiffened portions of the side walls of the two sections. A pointed traveling shoe 96 is mounted on lower divider section 94 at its forward end; and the lower edge of this section is provided with reinforced side strips each provided with a bail or loop 97 into which the forward ends of the pivoted arms 67 on the side shields 71 project with a loose guided fit, thus assisting in bracing the lower edge portion of this center divider section 94, while at the same time permitting pivotal movement of this divider section and the shield 71 about pivot members 95 and 68, respectively, and insuring that the lower divider section may follow the raising and lowering of the forward end of the harvester frame to which the shields 71 are pivotally attached.

An inner rear shield section 98 (see Fig. 3) is secured in position by bolts, preferably the same bolts as hold the chain guide 99 (Figs. 9 and in position, passing through a flange at the inner edge of the shield section and into or through this chain guide. The upwardly and outwardly rising wall at the forward portion of the shield is secured by bolts to an upper flange on the rearwardly extending guide wall section 76 of the shield 72; and the rear portion of the shield 98 of gradually reducing height has a vertical flange at its upper edge in engagement with the inner side of the rear portion of the guide wall extension 76.

A rear end shield or guard 101 overlying the upwardly extending driving shafts 56 of the main power drive on which the sprockets 58 are mounted, has forwardly extending side walls inside which the rear ends of the rear extensions 76 of the shield 72 fit and which are preferably bolted to such extensions.

A separate forwardly extending frame bar 102 is de tachably secured by one or more bolts 103 and positioning pins 104 to the outer side of the forward end of each frame bar 21, this bar 102 extending forwardly in substantially the same plane as the bar 21 and the adjacent portion of the frame bar 17; and an extension 106 is secured to the bar 102 at its forward end.

A transversely adjustable rear stripper plate 107 inclined downwardly so that its inner edge lies over and adjacent harvester roll 61, is mounted on upper flange portions of brackets 108 secured to the frame bar 102. Forwardly of stripper plate 107 a stripper plate 109 is mounted on bar'102 and is provided with a pair of leaves 111 and 112 pivotally mounted on the inner edge there of. In operation the stripper leaves may be rotated on their pivot, so as to raise the inner edge of the leaves, by a low hanging ear or a heavy stalk beneath the leaves; to permit an ear to pass upwardly of the inner edge of the leaves, thus insuring that the corn ear and the portion of the stalk to which it is attached are brought to the upper side of the stripper plates into a position where the ear may be subjected to the normal action of the harvesting rolls.

An outer gathering shield 113 is attached in position through a flange at theinner lower edge thereof, to the stripper plate 107 through the bolts which mount the stripper plate on the bar' 102, the shield extending upwardly and curving outwardly to a substantially vertical outer side wall portion, generally as indicated in Figs. 7 and 8. The upper portion of this gathering shield may be braced in position by one or more bracing rods se cured thereto and-to the outer edge of the stripper plate 107, and the lower outer edge of the gathering shield may be suitably stiffened and held in position by one or more braces or plates detachably secured to such lower edge portion and to the outer edge of the stripper plate.

A supporting hub or sleeve 114 is mounted on the forward end of the extension 106 of the frame bar 102 and a bracket secured to the bar 102. A rod 116 is pivotally mounted in'the hub 114 and carries a forwardly extending channel-like frame 117 of gradually tapering width toward its forward end; and a traveling shoe point llfi'is mounted on the forward end of the channel frame 117: A shield 119 of tapering width and generally semi-circular cross section is mounted on shoe 118 and the inner edge of the channel frame 117. This gathering shield may be suitably stiffened along its lower outer edge. The shield 119 may rise and fall to a limited extent about the pivot rod 116, with the rear end of the shield riding over and along the f'orwardend portion of the shield 113, the upward movement of the shield 119 being limited by a binding engagement between the rear end of such shield and the adjacent portion of the gathering shield 113.

A rearwardly extending substantiallyvertical guide plate or Wall 121 is attached to the lower rear part of the inner side wall of the gathering shield 113, this guide wall extending rearwardly, with its rear end bent inwardly, to the forward edge of the outer guide wall 122 of the trough plate 79 (see Fig. 3), and an extension or rod 123 fits into a bail or slotted part 124 carried at the outer side of the wall 122. With this arrangement the rear end of the guide wall 121 is definitely positioned with respect to the trough plate and forms, in conjunction with the wall 122 the outer side of a conveyer trough through which the active course of the chain 59 passes, the inner wall of this conveyer trough being formed by the rear extension 76 of the inner gathering shield 7 2.

A transversely extending hollow bracket portion 126 is secured to and supported by the upper portion of the inner side wall of the gathering shield 113 and is provided with a depending forward wall 127, this bracket portion forming a bracing connection between the outer shield 113 and the adjacent portion of the inside gathering shield '72. The inner edge of the bracing bracket portion 126 is provided with a securing bracket or extension 128 at its underside fitting beneath a securing clip 129 attached to the vertical bracket plate 23 mounted on chain guides 77 and 99, the bracket 128 having rearwardly opening slots 132 which fit about the shank portions of bolts 133 passing through the clip 129. Securing nuts are drawn up tight against the clip 129 to secure the inner edge of the transverse bracket portion 126 of the outer gathering shield 113 in position.

When it is desired to remove the harvester from the tractor, the pivot bolts attaching the lower center divider shield section 94 to the upper section 81 of such divider are removed, and then the lower section of this divider can be moved forwardly from the upper section and from the forwardly extending bars 67 pivoted to the frame bars 17. The upper section of the center divider can then be removed forwardly after releasing the securing latch 88. The outer gathering shield assembly may then be removed on loosening the bolts 133, passing through the rearwardly opening slots of a bracket portion on the inner part of the bracing extension 128 of the outer gathering shield, and the bolts 103 connecting the frame bars 102 to the frame bars 21 are removed. In this condition, the outer gathering shield assembly is drawn forwardly to release the rear extension bar at the rear end of the extension wall 121 on the gathering shield from the bail on the outer wall 122 of the trough plate 79. The outer gathering shields and associated parts can then be fully removed from the other portions of the harvester, so as to permit forward travel of the tractor.

As the detailed recitation of the method of removing the remaining structure of the harvester from the tractor forms no part of this invention, such recitation will not be here given as such can be found in the aforementioned parent application Serial No. 111,057.

To replace the shields on the harvester, the steps recited above are carried out in reverse and consequently are not here repeated.

It should be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular details of construction and design shown and described herein and that the invention includes such other applications and modifications as are fairly included within the scope of the annexed claims.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In combination, a mobile frame having a. rear axle support mounting a pair of laterally spaced traction wheels, and having a forward portion of reduced width provided with a front wheeled support, a. corn harvester comprising a supporting frame mounted on said mobile frame and carrying forwardly extending harvester rolls at the side of said mobile frame alongside said portion of reduced width, a shield comprising an upper section detachably mounted in relatively fixed position on the forward end of said mobile frame and having front and side wall portions enclosing the front and adjoining opposite side portions of said wheeled support, and a lower shield section overlapping the lower portion of said upper section and pivoted thereto to permit the forward end of said lower section to ride up and down relative to said upper section.

2. In combination, a mobile frame having a rear axle support for a pair of laterally spaced traction wheels, and having a forward portion of reduced width provided with a front wheeled support, a corn harvester comprising a supporting frame adjustably mounted on said mobile frame for relative up and down movement thereon and carrying forwardly extending harvester rolls at the side of the mobile frame alongside said portion of reduced width, a shield comprising an upper section detachably mounted in relatively fixed position on the forward end of said mobile frame and having front and side wall portions enclosing the front and opposite sides of said wheeled support, a lower shield section overlapping the lower portion of said upper section and pivoted thereto to perrnit the forward end of said lower section to ride up and down relative to said upper section, and a forwardly extending side shield pivotally mounted on a forward portion of said supporting frame at the inner sideof the adjacent harvester roll, said side shield having a forward extension loosely engaging a forward portion of said lower shield section and affording a tilting movement of said lower shield section relative to said side shield.

3. In combination, a mobile frame having a' rear axle support mounting a pair of laterally spaced. traction wheels, and having a forward portion of reduced width provided with a front wheeled support, a two-row corn harvester comprising a supporting frame mounted on said mobile frame and carrying forwardly extending harvester rolls disposed along opposite sides of-said forward portion of reduced width, a center divider shield comprising an upper section detachably mounted in relatively fixed position on the forward end of said mobile frame and having front and side wall portions enclosing the front and adjoining opposite side portions of said wheeled support, said upper section being provided at its forward side with an aperture to permit insertion of an engine crank, and a lower center divider section having front and side wall portions overlapping the lower portion of said upper section and pivoted thereto to permit the forward end of said lower section to ride up and down relative to said upper section.

4. In combination, a mobiie frame having a rear axle support mounting a pair of laterally spaced traction wheels, and having a forward portion of reduced width provided with a front wheeled support, a two-row corn harvester comprising a supporting frame pivotally mounted on said mobile frame and carrying forwardly extending harvester rolls disposed along opposite sides of said forward portion of reduced width, a center divider shield comprising an upper section detachably mounted in relatively fixed position on the forward end of said mobile frame and having front and side wall portions enclosing the front and adjoining opposite side portions of said wheeled support, a lower center divider shield section having front and side wall portions overlapping the lower portion of said upper section and pivoted thereto to permit the forward end of said lower section to ride up and down along said upper section, and a forwardly extending side shield pivotally mounted on a forward portion of said supporting frame at the inner side of the adjacent harvester roll, said side shield having a forward extension loosely engaging a forward portion of said lower shield section and affording a tilting movement of said lower shield section in response to a tilting movement of said side shield.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Andrews et al Feb. 8, 1949 

